Shrey's Cara Dune Build

[Shrey ()]

[Shrey ()]

I wish I could say this vest is more fun to sew than I was thinking it would be, but it's pretty miserable. The HTV is kind of sticky, there's a lot of details and layers, and any error is super obvious.

Here is the back pieces (sides not yet attached) with topstitching:

IMG_3812 by SumTotal, on Flickr

And the front, with the topstitching and webbing inserted:

IMG_3813 by SumTotal, on Flickr

Here's a detail of the front with the one side panel I managed to attach:
IMG_3814 by SumTotal, on Flickr

Next weekend I hope to add the sides, the lining, piping around the armholes and neckholes, the zipper and the pleather trim around the bottom. I still need to weed nearly all the HTV for the pants, so that's... gonna be awhile.
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[Shrey ()]

What a time to be trying to finish this costume that I've been working on since 12/2019.

Here is the vest when I sewed the shoulders together:
IMG_3875 by SumTotal, on Flickr

IMG_3876 by SumTotal, on Flickr

Anyway, this vest is the worst. I opted to do all the piping, which goes down the outer side panels, the neck, and the armholes. Also a lining because why not? This involved all kinds of fun "burrito method" tricks. But mostly frustration with slippery, sticky, foamy fabrics and pleather piping:

IMG_3896 by SumTotal, on Flickr

IMG_3895 by SumTotal, on Flickr

It was then time to sew together the left side and add on the pleather bottom trim:

IMG_3925 by SumTotal, on Flickr

After that, I blind stitched the lining into the reverse side of the bottom trim, and inserted the zipper into the right side. I was super frustrated by then so have no pictures of this, but here is the completed vest:

IMG_3927 by SumTotal, on Flickr

NEVER AGAIN.
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[Shrey ()]

I purchased a styled wig recommended on the Cara Dune FB group. Forgive the untrimmed lace front and my hair sticking out, but I'm impressed:

IMG_3933 by SumTotal, on Flickr

IMG_3938 by SumTotal, on Flickr

I also started painting the boot knife and a boot knife dummy (so I don't have to have a big PLA blade down the side of my leg, for places that would even let a person bring that).

IMG_3941 by SumTotal, on Flickr

Next steps: make the collar from foam and piping. Weed more HTV for the pants. Mod the Walmart pants with the HTV pattern, the waistline changes, maybe adding a fake fly, and of course more piping. Figure out how I'm attaching the various pieces of armor.
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[Shrey ()]

I won't have much time to work on this over the weekend, but it's always fun to put my painting skills to use. Painted up some details on the boot knife, boot knife dummy and the snap/leather portion.

I started off painting everything a medium brown/tan, then used watered down black/brown in the crevices. Looking at reference photos, I added some lighter and darker areas (along the edges and raised areas, as from wear due to use.)

IMG_3952 by SumTotal, on Flickr

For the "snap" and "leather", which are 3-D printed, I panted a medium brown, then put a dark wash in areas that would have that, then let dry. I then dry-brushed/stippled light tan in the wear areas to replicate the look of worn and weathered leather.

IMG_3951 by SumTotal, on Flickr

Here's the full knife with the "scabbard". I painted the dummy knife similarly and will use that one with the boot so I don't have a big sharp piece of PLA down my leg.

IMG_3954 by SumTotal, on Flickr
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